Washing and Massaging Your Skin

The superstition that soap and water are bad for the skin arose in the days when soaps were very alkaline and did tend to dry and irritate the skin.

With the advancement of techniques in our country, modern soaps often have lanolin and other oils to counteract this drying effect. Cleansing thoroughly is a must for the skin, as the skin needs to be free from all oils and grease to allow it to breathe freely.

One of the most invaluable aids to a good skin is a complexion brush. Soap the skin and scrub. Use a small circular movement. The scrubbing stimulates the skin, brings blood to the surface, removes dead cells, smooths and cleans.

Oatmeal Scrub

Mix together one tablespoon each of finely ground orange peel and ground almonds. This is slightly abrasive and very cleansing. Take a little (roughly a teaspoon) in the palm of your hand, mix with a little water and use the paste to wash the skin.

An Amazing Washing Secret

Soap your face well, adding a small handful of sugar to the lather. Massage this in for a couple of minutes, then rinse of with warm water. This scrub is good for a spotty and a sluggish looking skin.

Egg wash

Put 11/2 tablespoons of sugar with 1/2 tablespoon of water in a pan, over a low heat. When it begins to caramel, remove from the heat and add a beaten egg yolk. Replace it on the low heat for a minute and mix in one teaspoon lemon juice. This is an ideal scrub for slightly dry skins.

Washing lotions

The water left over from cooking your vegetables (especially cabbage, spinach and beans) makes vitamin filled face-washing liquids. These should be used quickly while fresh. According to a dermatologist, use f wine or beer foam in bath water is an extravagant prescription for a good blemish-free skin.

How to massage

Massage is also done with talcum powder. If you have an oily skin, powder massage is equally effective. Dab skin with a towel before a powder massage. Do not rub towel on the skin. After drying the skin thoroughly, dust it with any good talcum powder, preferably with a baby powder as this is milder and does not harm the sensitive skin. Be sure that your hands glide smoothly on the skin. If the face is not dry, the powder will stick to your skin and hamper the hand movement. Remember to spread a towel beneath your shoulders and head in order to avoid staining the bedspread below. If you have acne or pimples, avoid using greasy substance for massage. Even soap lather could be used as a massage medium, but this should be avoided as far as possible, as soap may in fact harm the problem skin.

Recipes for Massage

Massage Paste

This consists of wheat flour or oatmeal mixed in to a paste with double cream. The paste has a deep-cleansing effect on the skin, removing dead cells and dirt.

Another way to make massage cream is to soak two handfuls of lentils in water overnight. Put these in the liquidizer with a small quantity of milk and wash yourself with the resultant mixture. This makes your skin shiny and smooth.

Massage Cream

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons lanolin

4 tablespoons sun flower or safflower oil

9 tablespoons rose water

Heat the oil together and then slowly add the heated water. Add a tablespoon of winter green or camphor oil to make a really invigorating massage cream. To make this cream lighter simply add 2 tablespoons of petroleum jelly.